Surgical outcomes after cytoreductive nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy

To determine postoperative outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and level II through IV inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus (IVCT), and their ability to receive systemic therapy.

We reviewed medical records of all patients with mRCC and level II through IV IVCT who underwent surgery between January 1990 and December 2012 at our institution. Complications within 30 days of surgery were recorded according to the Clavien-Dindo system. Survival was calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method, and intergroup comparisons were performed with the log-rank statistics.

Seventy-six patients were identified, of which 30 (40%), 31 (41%), and 15 (20%) patients had a level II, III, and IV IVCT, respectively. Perioperative mortality was 6.6%. The overall postoperative complication rate was 37%, of which 7.8% (n = 6) were classified as major postoperative complications (Clavien grade 3-5). Follow-up information was available in 60 patients, of whom 90% received a postoperative systemic therapy. Four patients chose expectant management, and 2 patients died of progressive disease before receiving systemic therapy. Overall median survival was 14 months and was significantly related to postoperative treatment with targeted molecular therapies and number of prognostic risk factors, but was not influenced by the level of IVC tumor thrombus.

Cytoreductive nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy can be performed with acceptable complication rates and should be considered as an integral part of the treatment approach for patients with mRCC and IVC tumor thrombi.